Responding to Hurricane SandyManaging Your Church Share The aftermath of the largest Atlantic tropical system on record has left pastors and parishioners feeling overturned. Many are confused, grieving and unsure of the practical steps of what to do next. With this in mind, here is a two-part article for churches affected by this disaster and those wishing to help in the recovery effort. Part 1 covers church closure response, shelters, preparing relief workers and more. Part 2 covers donations, emotional needs and spiritual needs.

If you have been affected by Hurricane Sandy, NACBA would like to hear your story. Please post it at www.facebook.com/NACBA.

Volunteers: The lifeblood of storm responseUMC Connections Share After Hurricane Sandy ripped through the New Jersey coast, the Manasquan United Methodist Church was left without power, but the Rev. Reggie Albert was determined that her church wouldn't be powerless. She started with the simple act of opening the doors. "I wasn't sure what I would do, but I knew I wanted to open the church."More

After Superstorm Sandy, advice for churchesChristianity Today Share Local churches are uniquely prepared to offer immediate, on-the-ground assistance to areas affected by Hurricane Sandy and other natural disasters. The best way to do that? According to Jamie D. Aten, founder and co-director of Wheaton College's Humanitarian Disaster Institute, identify ministries in which a particular church already excels; then partner with other churches or associations, such as the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster which coordinates emergency response from religious groups and other private agencies.More

Make Personal Connections With Your Technology Whether a first-time visitor or long time attendee, establishing a connection and encouraging interaction with the church’s ministry areas is one of the most vital areas of the follow-up process. To help your church focus on the personal aspects of connection and getting people involved, download the ACS Technologies ministry guide Key Elements to Connection Success today.

NJ churches damaged in stormAssociated Baptist Press Share Baptist leaders in New Jersey estimate between 20 percent and 30 percent of the state's 280 American Baptist churches sustained damage from Hurricane Sandy. Lee Spitzer, regional pastor for the American Baptist Churches of New Jersey, described an "arc of damage" across the state, where 1.2 million people remained without power, and grocery stores and gas stations remained closed.More

How to market to your online communityChurch Executive Share Enhance your church website with e-commerce functionality and mobile optimization. The immeasurable growth of the Internet has presented new opportunities for churches and other faith-based organizations to reach out even further into their communities. Church websites, just like those for any business or organization, need to be professional and effective.More

Study: Faith-based IT opportunities will be worth $40 billion by 2017The Christian Post Share A recent study by a technology research firm has concluded that in five years the value of information technology opportunities that are religiously based will be an estimated $40 billion. Released in September by Stamford, Conn.-based Gartner Inc. and authored by Asheesh Raina and David M. Coyle, the study concluded that religion would heavily influence IT developments.More

5 things every leader should knowForbes Share Ask five people for their opinions on optimizing "span of control" and you'll likely receive five different opinions. These well-meaning opinions will often cite a few different rules of thumb on size and composition, and will undoubtedly refer you to someone's version of best practices. The problem is they will all lead you astray.More

The "EMS" line of facility scheduling, resource management and web calendar tools (EMS Lite, EMS Professional, EMS Enterprise and EMS Master Calendar) is used by more than 1,300 churches. But just as important as choosing the right system is how you implement and use it. Check out some helpful "tricks of the trade" articles here.

System 44 is the breakthrough foundational reading and phonics intervention technology program for our most challenged readers in Grades 3–12+. System 44's state-of-the-art adaptive technology delivers direct, explicit and foundational reading and phonics instruction as well as engaging, high-interest print materials for student practice in reading, writing, and spelling. Learn More

Appeals court drops test of who qualifies as church 'minister'Gleanings Share The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has declined to dictate whom a church can "consider a lay liturgical minister under canon law," dropping its previous three-fold test. In its first case to address the ministerial exception doctrine in light of the Supreme Court's Hosanna-Tabor ruling, the court held that plaintiff Philip Cannata, a music director, was a "minister" for purposes of the ministerial exception doctrine. More

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How smart managers build bridgesHarvard Business Review Share What do you do when the other person simply won't budge from an entrenched position in which they have a great deal of personal and professional commitment? Most people try to win the other person over to their point of view by argument. The key to avoiding this dynamic is to stop trying to get the person to change and instead get them to open up.More

Study: Church-going teens graduate and attend college moreDeseret News Share Church-going teens are 40 percent more likely to graduate from high school and 70 percent more likely to enroll in college, according to a new study published in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. Church attendance, as well as any religious affiliation, boosts academic advancement, according to the study from sociologists at Brigham Young University and Rice University.More

New York man sues church after 600-pound cross crushed leg, forced amputationThe Associated Press via Fox News Share On Memorial Day 2010, David Jimenez was scrubbing grime off the large crucifix outside a Hudson Valley, N.Y., church when the 600-pound marble statuary toppled over, crushing his right leg. The then-43-year-old was flown to Westchester Medical Center, where doctors had to amputate his injured leg. He's suing the Roman Catholic Church where he was hurt, and early next year his $3 million lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial.More

How to manage people older than youInc. Share The number of people older than 65 who are still working is up 20 percent from 2008 — even while employment overall is down. In part, this is because they can; people are living longer and healthier than ever. And, in part, it is because they need to; failure to save coupled with low yields on investments make retirement financially elusive for many. This also means that, as leaders, you will increasingly manage people older than you are.More

3 technology tools to strengthen your small groupsChurchTechToday.com Share As technologies have changed, so have methods to communicate with and stay connected to people in your Bible study groups with whom you share life. Small-group communication does depend somewhat on the leader and what style they are comfortable with. How do you use technology to empower and grow your small group?More